Science magazine | Highlights of the recent literature | 17.07.2009

Corydalis conorhiza, a plant of the poppy family that grows at 2800 m in the Caucasus mountains...

... produces extensive networks of roots that grow upward and laterally into the snowpack that carpets the high slopes until the July thaw. Isotope experiments showed that these roots, which are anatomically distinct from the normal roots that grow downward into the soil, take up nitrogen directly from the snow-pack, thus exploiting a resource that would otherwise disappear down the mountainside during the brief summer.

More here: V.G. Onipchenko et al., New nitrogen uptake strategy: specialized snow roots. Ecology Letters 12, 758, 2009.

you are the media you consume.

The combined results are exactly what you would expect from asking a group of practitioners how to rectify faults that were of their own industry's making. Their ideas are practical, sensible but, despite squeals from an industry that does not wish to appear to be getting off too lightly, uncontroversial. They are supportive of the financial services industry's structure and locus, not questioning of it. They reflect the authors' provenance in concentrating on making a better fist of the system that has failed rather than considering alternative structures and wider options.

This is an inevitable consequence of the government's decision to use in­siders to lead and inform its response. Given the mess that accepting conventional wisdom got us into, it is disappointing that alternative ideas are being marginalised at the very time when they are most needed. This can be illustrated by the Bischoff re­port's recommendation that "the government and the industry should lead an informed public debate on the role of financial services in the economy". It is the right idea, in the wrong hands. The combination of misplaced government policy and irresponsible banking was what caused the system to fail. The notion that those deeply involved in the inception of the problem should now be entrusted with leading the public debate on its solution is astonishing.

The Deutsche Meister, Wolfsburg takes on Pokalsieger Werder Bremen in the nearly sold out VW Stadion, with only 27,000 seats remaining.

It is said that the winner is one with the least injuries, which is what both teams hope to accomplish. or am i missing something?

Skennah Kowa

Best line "Palin 2012 : The World's gonna end anyway"

keep to the Fen Causeway

Health experts agree that, while the current flu epidemic that started in Mexico in April 2009 may weaken during the summer, it could re-appear in the autumn, possibly in a stronger form. Using historical benchmarks of previous flu pandemics and of the SARS episode, we estimate the economic impact of a global flu pandemic in the UK. The GDP loss during the six months of the pandemic would amount to around 5% in the UK. That a pandemic is likely to hit the global economy just as it starts to recover from recession could result in the economic impact being larger than would otherwise have been the case, and this could tip the world and UK economies into deflation. UK CPI inflation would fall to around -1% throughout 2010-12 and UK GDP growth next year could be as low as -7½%.  17 July 2009

learn more (pdf)

Hat tip Le Monde.fr

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

Considering  >:

That there was a questionable fire in the city hall basement archives, around 14:30,

That there was no alarm system working today, ---when all the alarms were tested and working last Tuesday evening around 19:00--- and we were lucky to be notified by a socialist, who run in and up to the third floor to tell us they were evacuating,

That employees leave at 14:00 on summer schedule, some are already on vacation and there were only around 50 people in the three story building,

That I had to figure out city hall is a dead-end/cul-de-sac, fire trap with a single street-level access, blocked by bollards that didn't lower today ... because the whole back street is blocked, razed and covered by piles of sand for a pharaonic, unfeasible, double-priced, bus and parking facility, that looks like a crater right now. There is no other way for firetrucks to reach it, except through the crowded, basement garage... where they would ram into the low ceiling from either entrance.  (40 26 04 30N, 3 48 49 97W)

That fire and rescue got there after 14:45, when it was all over and we were all out, probably because city planning has just changed the direction of one-way streets by default idiocy...

That before 15:00 I walked back in through the garage, did smell burnt paper, but the archive door was closed, there was no sign of smoke, nor water, not a hose, nor a fireman, nor a truck around the whole area...

That the recent ex-mayor is indited in the Gürtel corruption investigation and has hearings approaching, where lots of documents will be requested,

That the ruling local PP cannot even spell ethics and the whole party core is crumbling from illegal activities,

I have to consider
being TRIPLY PISSED OFF because they are playing with our lives, ---even if it's only neglect--- besides our justice system and our money.  

Can't wait to hear their canned 'explanations'.


Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.

Fuck and yes.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!